Presented to TSA Alberni Valley Ministries, 14 September 2025 by Major Michael Ramsay
Busy
time at The Salvation Army! And only getting busier now until Christmas is
done! Yesterday was the Toy Run. We were blessed to be able to prepare and
serve chili and hotdogs. We were blessed to be able to pick up a cube van full
of toys. We were blessed to say the prayer and ask the blessing before the
riders rode.
Last
weekend was the fall fair and the parade. Thank you to everyone who helped out.
We were blessed to be able to have a
booth and we were blessed to have a float and our mobile kitchen (CRU) and a
number of walkers in the parade. Thank you!
The
weekend before that was Salmon Fest. We were blessed to be able to run the
bullhead derby and we were blessed with rods and lures to be able to hand out
to kids who were fishing.
We, of
course, were blessed to help our community and Parksville / Qualicum with the
fire relief as well this summer.
Next
up: in a couple of weeks we have Men’s Camp and the Thanksgiving food drive. We
are blessed to be able to take a number of men from here (some who stay with us
in our shelter and eat at the Bread of Life) to camp. They get a chance to be a
part of everything as equals and as friends. And a number of them have been
saving up and looking forward to it for months.
That
same weekend we are blessed to raise funds and food for people in the community
through the Thanksgiving Food Drive. We also just finished collecting and
distributing school supplies for families in need. And of course, a
Thanksgiving meal is upcoming too! – served both at the Bread of Life Soup
Kitchen and off The Salvation Army food truck to the homeless and housing
insecure. We are blessed to be used by God to do a lot for this community.
October
4th, we have a booth at Co-op Days. That day we are also officiating
the wedding of Logan. He is a young man who works at the Bread of Life and
whose family was a part of The Salvation Army for generations.
October
18th is Della’s memorial service.
There
has been, is still, and will be a lot of work involved in all of these things
that we are blessed to a part of: planning work, doing work, and emotional
work.
All of
this is added to our everyday work of church and CCM/ care homes, soup kitchen,
food bank, food truck, shelter, staffing, thrift store, etc., etc., etc.…
I know
many of you and others work selflessly around the clock and around the calendar.
I praise God for you and all He does through You.
The
scriptures we read today and the scriptures we will read and the whole canon of
scripture really tells us, along with other things, that we are to continue to
serve and love God by allowing Him to serve and others through us.
Sometimes
that is difficult.
This
week as our team was still dealing with the passing of a teammate and friend,
as our team was dealing with an assault that affected many, as our team was
grieving employees who may not be returning – suddenly – after years of being
part of our team. This week I have spoken with a few people who are faced with
their own mortality.
This
week I had to speak to city council.
I was
told I didn’t need to speak. I was told there wouldn’t be public input. I was
told that we wouldn’t need letters. I was told I didn’t need to be there. I
shouldn’t have acted as if I believed the things I was told. I was there to get
a permit!
I sat
and I listened for a large portion of an hour as people told me and themselves
bad things that we allegedly do or contribute to in our community. (You can
watch the City Council meeting on-line.) Some of what was said was lies or at
least intentionally misleading, some was mistaken, conflated and confused; some
was angry; and one or more councillors slapped us with a backhanded compliment,
a Marc Antony type soliloquy, or even put Brutus’ dagger in our back (Thanks
Dustin!). I had to listen to this.
I had
to answer to this. I had no notes. The public wasn’t supposed to be able to
speak. I was told that I didn’t need to speak. I was told I didn’t need to be
there. And then… I was asked why there was homelessness in our community, why
it is getting worse, and what AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT!?!
I was
only there to renew a permit to continue feeding and sheltering people in our
community and now I was being asked to solve homelessness before they would
consider renewing our permit to serve the homeless.
I
wanted to say a bunch of things. I was tempted to tell them that was their job
to solve homelessness! My job is to protect and provide for the people you
forsake! I was tempted to tell them that if they didn’t close down the Port
Pub, the trailers, and RB’s playground throwing all those people out on the
street, then all those people would not be out on the street! I was tempted to
tell them that if they provided supportive housing and involuntary treatment
then there wouldn’t be homelessness! I was tempted to tell them that if they
built homes and let people stay in them then there wouldn’t be homelessness!
I was
tempted to say. “You are blaming us because people are sleeping in doorways,
defecating and urinating in planters, and leaving drug paraphernalia on the
streets; and your solution is for us to close our shelter tossing 25 to 45 more
people onto the streets with no place to sleep or defecate!”
We
have bathrooms, beds, and no in-and-out privileges at night. We keep our people
safe. We are the only dry shelter in our whole community. We are the only safe
place for sober addicts. We offer jobs, volunteer work, meaning, purpose and
family for people. We feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and befriend those
with no friends. I was tempted to close it all down! And tell City Council to
see how they like it now that there are 25 to 45 more people on the streets
with no safe place to go! I was tempted… but I didn’t.
Instead
I spoke of the great work that the LORD is doing through all of you. I was and
am very thankful for the support of our mayor, Sharie Minions; Councillors Deb
Haggard and Charlse Mealy. I know that another councillor who shall remain
nameless is our enemy (as he always speaks and votes against us) and I am still
smarting from Dustin’s knife in our backs. I left the City Council meeting
upset. I did not sleep that night.
Do you
ever get to the point where you just want to quit? Do you ever get to the point
where you ask “what is the point? Why am I doing this?” I was getting to that
point.
Susan
pointed to our prayer meetings, our check-ins, our prayer / grace before meals
as a part of how we are serving our Lord and our neighbourhood and pointed out
that the Enemy will fight against those willing to be a part of the Lord’s
kingdom and His transformative power in this age and in the age to come. Last
week Tim read from Isaiha 61. We have been a part of two separate TSA Corps
based on that chapter of the Bible – especially Verse 4.
I know
that the LORD’s will will be done.
Sage
Haven, Island Health, Agro Hope, CAT, Ineo, and others have already written or
offered to write letters. I imagine another councillor or two will vote along
with Sharie, Deb, and Charlse to support the vulnerable in our community. I
have had many people reach out to me this past week, thank you: the Lord used
and is using you to sustain me on top of all the other things He is using you
to do.
Today
I want to encourage you. We are all working so diligently for the LORD and the
most vulnerable in our community. Please keep it up and please don’t give up!
I
think of the story of the Hebrews in a battle during Moses’ time. The people
were fighting hard. God used Moses to encourage His people. As Moses held his
staff above his head, the Hebrews would prevail, when this burden became too
heavy and his arms, his staff and his encouragement waned; the Hebrews started
to falter and fall. God then provided people to uphold Moses’ arms so that God
would still use Moses to encourage God’s people to win the battle.
Friends,
many of you are fighting in life’s battle on behalf of Jesus and the Kingdom of
God everyday – by serving at the soup kitchen, shelter, seniors homes, church,
store, food bank, prayer and Bible studies, and even more.
I do
see a big part of the blessing of my job to stand up here and elsewhere to hold
up the staff of the LORD’s encouragement in the face of adversity. Please hear
me now:
Hebrews
10:36-37: You need to persevere so that when you have done the will
of God, you will receive what He has promised. For,
“In just a little while,
He who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
1
Peter 3:8: ...all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic,
love one another, be compassionate and humble.
2
Corinthians 12:9: The Lord says, “…My grace is sufficient
for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all
the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
And
Psalm 55:22: Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will
never let the righteous be shaken.
I
thank the Lord for all of you that come alongside me and hold my arms each and
everyday through prayer and conversation and listening on top of everything else
you do; you are a vital part of this battle that is our life’: the battle to
live in, to live for, and to grow the Kingdom of God for now and forever.
Amen.
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